The Origins of the John Cooper Works brand and the First JCW MINIs

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Everyone knows that the John Cooper name is been synonymous with Minis since the early 60s. But did you know the same John Cooper was one of the most successful F1 team owners in the early days of the sport? Or that the R53 JCW was really just a bolt-on tuning kit created by the Cooper Car Company that BMW agreed to sell to jump-start enthusiasm in the rejuvenated brand?

It’s been 20 years since the introduction of the first JCW tuning kits for the R50 and R53 MINIs so we thought what better time than now to look back at their history. For those of you who were along for the ride back then, you’ll enjoy the trip back in time. For those who weren’t, get ready for a wild story.

John Cooper in the pits

John Cooper and Jack Brabham

John Cooper with one of his race winning F1 cars

The Cooper name originates from John Cooper, an engineering legend linked to the golden age of British motor racing throughout the 1960’s. Back in the early 1950s, it felt like every young British racer jump-started their career behind a car built by John Cooper. And success followed all the way to Formula 1. Cooper’s iconic and successful Formula 1 cars boasted legendary drivers like Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss, Maurice Trintignant, and Bruce McLaren. Over nine thrilling years, the team notched up an impressive 16 Grand Prix victories, 11 poles and 14 fastest laps. But most impressively Jack Brabham won consecutive World Championships in 1959 and 1960 with the dark green Cooper.

During their time in Sebring, Florida, for the 1959 United States Grand Prix, Cooper crossed paths with American driver Rodger Ward. Ward, the reigning USAC national champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, was blown away by the agility of Cooper’s little cars on the road course. Excitedly, he proposed a test at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, declaring, “You’ve got to try out your car around the Oval. Indy’s waiting for you!” In the fall of 1960, Cooper brought one of their Formula One cars to the Speedway.

Attracted by the legendary large Indy 500 purses, John Cooper brought Jack Brabham and a Cooper to the 1961 Indy 500. He altered the car slightly by increasing the size of the engine to 2.8 litres, tilting it to the left, and adding some fuel tanks on the left of the car for better weight balance for the left corners. The Cooper ran well, qualifying on the fifth row ultimately finishing ninth. Many believe if it wasn’t for its second rate Dunlop tires, the Cooper could have challenged for the win. But it didn’t matter. Just the appearance of the radically mid-engined Cooper ushered in a revolution at Indy, away from the front-engined layout that had dominated for decades.

The Modern MINI John Cooper Works

With the introduction of new MINI in 2001, the Cooper name was reborn under the guidance of John’s son Mike, who began developing aftermarket tuning kits for the new MINI at the original John Cooper premises in East Preston, West Sussex. With official blessing from BMW, the kits were installed at the Cooper garages and at MINI dealers in the UK, Europe and eventually North America.

The kit was relatively simple making it easy to install after a customer had purchase the top of the line Cooper S. This dealer or port installed arrangement and friendly working agreement between BMW and John Cooper proved to be almost immediately successful paving the way for a much more official relationship.

R50 & R53 John Cooper Works tuning Kits

For most new MINI fans, the JCW name is directly connected to the tuning kits and eventually factory JCW MINIs. Let’s go back in time and take a look at those early tuning kits that helped shape the brand as we know it.

2003 R50 MINI Cooper Tuning Kit

UK sales: Unknown

• Technical specifications
• Machined cylinder head
• Cat-back” sport exhaust system
• Improved-flow air filter
• Cover injection tube
• Updated ECU programming
• Engine cover
• Rear, and side vent badges

Performance Data

• 126 bhp at 5750 rpm
• Peak torque is 114 ft.lbs. at 4750 rpm
• Higher curve than stock between 2500 and 3500 rpm.

2005 R50 MINI Cooper JCW Sound Kit

UK sales: 525

Technical specification

• Air filter system
• Stainless steel sports exhaust
• Modified engine control unit
• Engine cover finished in silver with John Cooper Works emblem
• John Cooper Works badges
• John Cooper Works certificate of authenticity

Performance Data

• No performance improvements

2003-04 R53 Cooper S – John Cooper Works 200 hp Tuning Kit

UK sales: 1197

Technical Specification

• Complete John Cooper Works air filter system
• Modified cylinder head including valve drive and gaskets
• Sport rear silencer in stainless steel
• Modified supercharger
• Injection nozzles with increased throughput
• High power spark plugs
• Modified engine control unit
• John Cooper Works badges
• Engine cover finished in silver, including a John Cooper Works emblem
• John Cooper Works certificate of authenticity

Performance data

• 200 hp
• 245 Nm peak torque at 4,500 rpm
• 143 mph top speed
• 0-62 mph in 6.6 seconds

2004-06 R53 Cooper S – John Cooper Works Tuning 210 hp Tuning Kit

UK sales: 1209

B172S6B9

Technical specification

• Same as the 2003-04 John Cooper Works 200hp Tuning Kit for MINI Cooper S, but with: JCW upgrade kit to increase power output
• JCW air filter system
• Injection nozzles with increased throughput
• Modified engine control unit

Performance data

• 210 hp
• 245 Nm peak torque at 4,500 rpm
• 143 mph top speed
• 0-62 mph in 6.6 seconds

2006 R53 MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works GP

UK sales: 454 (Limited production of 2,000 models for worldwide sale)

Technical specification

• Limited Slip Differential
• ASC+T
• EBD
• DSC as a no-cost option
• Rear seat bench removed to accommodate a polished reinforcement tube connecting the spring strut domes on the rear axle
• 16-inch John Cooper Works disc brakes
• Thunder Blue/Pure Silver paintwork with red caps on the exterior mirrors
• Adapted air filter
• Modified outlet ducts
• Modified injection nozzles and spark plugs
• Sports exhaust system with chrome finish tailpipes
• Modified engine control unit
• 18 inch light alloy wheels with low profile tyres
• John Cooper Works GP Aerodynamic Kit
• Recaro leather seats in Panther Black (not available in the US)
• Bose audio system with CD player
• John Cooper Works GP badges

Our first road test of the 2006 JCW GP

Performance data

• 1.6 litre supercharged engine
• 218hp
• 250 Nm peak torque at 4,600 rpm
• 149 mph top speed
• 0-62 mph in 6.5 seconds

BMW Buys the John Cooper Works Brand

In December 2006 BMW Group acquired the rights from Mike to the John Cooper Works Brand. Early in 2007, this transaction became effective and gave BMW Group the opportunity to develop this sub-brand and its products in-house. This meant all future JCW products were to be developed in-house at BMW with much more elaborate engineering, design and testing capabilities.

The deal was agreed with the then owners of the John Cooper Works brand and in 2008, Mike Cooper remains as a consultant on the BMW Group’s John Cooper Works brand strategy. Mike carried on and was involved in the design and production of the after-sales tuning kits available for the R56 MINI Cooper S.

For several years Mike Cooper’s Cooper Car Company developed and supplied car accessories for various other corporate clients. The Cooper Car Company supplied BMW AG with hardware components for the R56 MINI Hatch after-sales tuning kit as well as sports air filters and sports exhausts for the BMW 3 Series. These parts bore the name John Cooper Works or BMW Performance respectively.

The J01 MINI Cooper S with the JCW Trim. Visually identical to the forthcoming 2025 J01 MINI Cooper JCW

John Cooper Works Evolves

Fast forward today and John’s son Charlie has become a brand ambassador and official MINI race car driver competing in MINI JCW at the Nurburgring 24 Hours among several races. Given Charlie’s expertise on the track and connection to the brand, we’d be surprised if he didn’t behind the scenes input into the brand’s direction.

Today the brand is completely integrated into MINI with engineers and designers in Munich working on future JCW daily. The development is all done in house and most production is integrated directly into MINI factories.

In 2025 MINI will be releasing its first ever all electric JCW production with the J01 MINI Cooper JCW. That move foreshadows the JCW sub-brand moving to all electric by 2030.

Conclusions – The R50 and R53 JCW Tuning Kits Unique in their Own Time, Even More Today

It’s amazing to look back at all this data with almost 20 years since the first tuning kits were released. Yes MINIs have gotten faster with more power and torque thanks to higher performance turbocharged engines. But no MINI since the R53 ceased production can quite match the driving experience of those first JCW products. The immediacy and old-school design and engineering mentality of the original R50 and R53 JCW Tuning Kits simply doesn’t exist in the world of new cars in 2024.

We love modern the JCW products. They can do things the R50 and R53 JCW Tuning kits could never match. But there’s no question that there’s an experience that they just can’t quite match. Perhaps electrification will add some of that back with better weight distribution and even higher performance. Or perhaps they were truly that special.

Gallery: 2002-2006 MINI John Cooper Works Tuning Kits

B172S12B3

B172S12B1

B172S6B9

A 112570

The 2013 R56 JCW GP, the 2019 F56 JCW GP and the original 2006 R53 JCW GP

Official MINI USA Press Release Announcing the R53 JCW Tuning Kit

Warrantied by MINI, 200 HP Kit Makes U.S. Debut At 2003 New York International Auto Show

The Big Apple witnesses the debut of an
exciting enhancement to the MINI Cooper S for the U.S. market ? the John 
Cooper Works package. Produced by the legendary aftermarket company, John 
Cooper Works, this exciting 200 hp package comes just 12 months on from 
MINI’s U.S. launch at the 2002 New York International Auto Show. Now, the 
John Cooper Works package offers customers yet another way to individualize 
their MINI – this time with real performance in mind.

Developed by the legendary John Cooper Works Company for a global market, 
the unique package will be sold exclusively through MINI dealers and will be 
covered under MINI’s comprehensive new car warranty. The package includes a 
reconfigured cylinder head, uprated supercharger along with special engine 
electronics and a performance exhaust. This enhancement takes the regular 
163hp MINI Cooper S to over 200hp. 

Importantly for existing MINI owners, the package can be retrofitted to their 
current MINI Cooper S. The complete package comes with an MSRP of $4,500 
plus dealer installation.

Performance is at the heart of the MINI Cooper S and the John Cooper Works 
Package takes this philosophy one step further. The cornerstone of the package 
is an enhanced Eaton supercharger with specially coated vanes that generate 
increased flow pressure. The unit comes with a new pulley design that allows 
the unit to spin at a higher RPM, generating an increase in power.

A high performance head is also a key ingredient. The modified head has 
improved port flow and, crucially has been especially designed for the 
increased compression and heat produced by the supercharger.

The package also includes a reprogrammed Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which 
manages all engine control functions including airflow, combustion, fueling and 
spark advance. The enhanced ECU has been recalibrated to optimize power 
output and drivability, resulting in a lively throttle response and increased 
acceleration in the mid-range torque band.

Also included in the package is a stainless steel sport exhaust system. The 
system is a parallel-flow, low backpressure system with superb interior and 
exterior noise quality. The system adds a throatier, more powerful exhaust 
note has distinctive looking twin chrome exhaust tips.

The John Cooper Works Cooper S package promises enhanced performance and it 
delivers. With the package, power is increased to an impressive 200 bhp at 
6950 rpm from the same 1.6 liters of displacement. In comparison, the already 
impressive MINI Cooper S produces 163 bhp at 6000 rpm in unmodified form. 
Torque is also up, rating at 177 foot-pounds at 4,000 rpm for the equipped car 
versus 155 foot-pounds at 4,000 rpm for the unequipped car.

The John Cooper Works equipped MINI Cooper S sprints from 0-60 in an 
improved 6.5 seconds with a top speed increased to 140 mph. This compares to 
a 0-60 time for the unequipped MINI Cooper S of 6.9 seconds and a top speed 
of 135 mph. The performance upgrade with the John Cooper Works package is 
very noticeable in all driving conditions and is an ideal compliment to the 
superb handling and chassis dynamics of the MINI Cooper S.

Visual cues are understated and will appeal to the MINI enthusiast. A unique 
chrome John Cooper Works badge adorns the rear deck lid and, when raised, 
the bonnet reveals a visually appealing silver intercooler surround with John 
Cooper Works logo. An individually numbered valve cover plaque tops it off and 
commemorates the exclusivity of this special package.

John Cooper Works has engineered this kit so that it can be offered in all 
markets where the MINI is sold around the world. Therefore, a MINI Cooper S 
equipped with the John Cooper Works Package must be able to withstand 
extreme temperatures and variations in fuel quality, but still offer enhanced 
power in an extremely reliable package. 

The John Cooper Works package is sold and professionally installed through all 
MINI dealers in the U.S. A MINI Cooper S equipped with the dealer-installed 
package is fully backed by MINI’s 4 year 50,000 thousand-mile new car 
warranty. And the John Cooper Works package is not just limited to new cars. 
Owners of an existing MINI Cooper S may also visit their local MINI dealer and 
have the kit installed at any time. The balance of the factory warranty will 
still remain in effect.

John Cooper Works is no ordinary aftermarket company. Since the 1940s, the 
company has produced celebrated racing cars, notably the front-engine Cooper 
Bristol driven by Fangio and rear engine Coopers for Formula 1, driven by Jack 
Brabham, Bruce McLaren and Stirling Moss. Under John Cooper’s direction, the 
Cooper Car Company won consecutive Formula 1 Constructors’ World 
Championships in 1959 and 1960.

The Cooper name is forever entwined with MINI, originating with the 1961 MINI 
Cooper, which was developed by John Cooper. John recognized MINI’s inherent 
motorsport potential and his team produced cars that took numerous race titles, 
and the MINI Cooper S became the stuff of legend with 3 Monte Carlo Rally wins 
between 1964 and 1967, driven by greats such as Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno 
Aaltonen. The Cooper company continues to produce aftermarket parts for the 
classic MINI and played an active part in the development of the new generation 
MINI Cooper. John Cooper passed away just as the new car came to market and 
the company is now run by his son, Michael.

Jack Pitney, general manager of MINI USA said: “We are thrilled to be bringing 
this exciting package to the U.S. MINI’s regular specification cars are 
exhilarating to drive in themselves, but the addition of this unique package takes the MINI 
experience to a whole new level.”

Note: The Cooper version of the John Cooper package will not be offered for 
sale in the U.S. market.

Official Global MINI Press Release Announcing the 210 HP 2005 R53 JCW Tuning Kit & Accessories

MINI flexes its muscle at the Paris Motor Show with a 210bhp John Cooper Works kit for MINI Cooper S and new range of accessories

Performance-hungry MINI drivers will be delighted to hear that a new John Cooper Works tuning kit for the MINI Cooper S has been developed to produce more power, greater performance and enhanced driving pleasure. The kit will be available worldwide, for both MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper S Convertible, following its unveiling at the Paris Motor Show.

Performance-hungry MINI drivers will be delighted to hear that a new John 
Cooper Works tuning kit for the MINI Cooper S has been developed to produce 
more power, greater performance and enhanced driving pleasure. The new kit is 
capable of generating 210bhp of power, a 0-62mph of 6.6 seconds and a top speed 
of 143mph.

The kit will be available worldwide, for both the MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper 
S Convertible, following its unveiling at the Paris Motor Show on Thursday, 23 
September. Despite the increase in power, the price for the new John Cooper 
Works Kit will remain unchanged for the UK, at £2,999 (inc. VAT) + ten hours’ 
labour fitting time. 

The performance upgrade has principally been achieved through changes to the 
air filter system, allowing greater airflow at high revs (above 4500rpm) by 
triggering an extra air intake flap to reduce pressure losses within the intake 
system. New fuel injectors and engine management calibration are also required 
to ensure optimum performance and durability under all operating conditions.

The arrival of the new Works kit was precipitated by the modifications made to 
the MINI Cooper S earlier this year, including changes to the gear ratios on 
the six-speed Getrag gearbox. In line with the enhancements experienced on the 
new Cooper S, the new Works Kit now accelerates from 50-75 mph in just 5.4 
seconds as well as its improved speed off the mark. 

Mike Cooper, Managing Director of John Cooper Works commented:

“Whilst it equates to only a small increase on paper, it feels like a 
considerably bigger hike. With the improved feel, throttle response and sound 
quality, we’re delighted with the results and can’t wait to pass the benefits 
onto our customers.”

Great news for existing Works Kit owners is that they need not buy an entirely 
new kit to realise the new levels of performance, but can have an upgrade 
fitted (new air filter intake system, injectors and calibration) at John Cooper 
Works, or any other official MINI dealer, at a cost of £335 (inc. VAT) + one 
hours’ labour fitting time. Both the new kit and upgrade are fully approved by 
MINI which means that vehicle warranty and MINI tlc service pack remain 
unaffected.

Every component of the John Cooper Works is the result of years of development 
work and innumerable road tests. The gutsy performance and first-class handling 
are testament to 150,000 road miles of durability testing and 20,000 miles of 
high-speed testing undertaken by experienced and exacting engineers. It has 
been put through its paces in 35-degree heat and a freezing minus 20 degrees. 

The post The Origins of the John Cooper Works brand and the First JCW MINIs appeared first on MotoringFile.

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